Antitrust & Competition

WTO lawyers have successfully defended clients in federal antitrust and competition matters across a range of industries, including in such highly regulated fields as aviation, healthcare, and telecommunications. Our attorneys have had extensive success obtaining early dismissal of antitrust claims, as well as disposing of bid rigging, monopolization, conspiracy, price fixing, exclusive dealing, and other competition-related disputes, including trade secrets and noncompete actions.

While WTO aggressively seeks early resolution of antitrust and competition claims through dispositive motions, we also approach every case as if it might go to trial, and thus are fully prepared to defend our clients in court and vigorously challenge any complaint. WTO attorneys also have significant experience guiding our clients through government investigations and prosecutions, and we are well versed in how and when to take a strong stand against a governmental agency to protect our clients’ business practices.

In addition to representing clients in litigation, trials, and investigations, WTO attorneys provide solution-oriented advice on antitrust issues that commonly arise in joint ventures, trade associations, and other business organizations. We counsel clients on their pricing policies and collaborative efforts with competitors to help avoid unwanted scrutiny down the road.

Representative Cases

Beltran v. Noonan et al. (D. Colo. 2015) - Successfully represented multiple defendants in a $2.1 billion federal antitrust and labor class action challenging the au pair exchange program administered by the Department of State. After four years of litigation, and just two months before trial, WTO helped to negotiate settlement for the joint defense group, resulting in defendants paying only 3% of the demand.

Successfully defended a leading technology distributor against claims of civil conspiracy and trade secret misappropriation brought by former competitors, who sought tens of millions of dollars in damages. Following full discovery and a Daubert hearing, plaintiffs dismissed all claims on the eve of trial without any settlement or payment from WTO's client.

Won WTO's motion to dismiss a federal antitrust action for a New Mexico healthcare trade association accused of conspiring to exclude healthcare providers from market.

Won motions to dismiss all antitrust claims against our client, a leading technology distributor, in multiple related antitrust conspiracy lawsuits brought by former distributors.

Represented a leading telecommunications company as a third-party respondent in discovery relating to a lawsuit involving claims that an executive violated the terms of a noncompete agreement and misappropriated proprietary information from his prior employer. The case eventually settled, absolving WTO's client of its role in the litigation.

JetAway Aviation v. Board of County Commissioners of the County of Montrose, Colorado (D. Colo.; 10th Cir.) - Won summary judgment from trial court and successfully defended that order before the Tenth Circuit in a federal antitrust lawsuit alleging conspiracy to monopolize fixed-base operations at an airport.

Obtained a temporary restraining order to stop the former employee of a healthcare third party administrator (TPA) and his new employer from contacting the TPA's customers. WTO also obtained a declaratory judgment that the TPA's noncompete agreement was enforceable under Colorado law.